WANTED-A BETTER SYSTEM.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 9

WANTED-A BETTER SYSTEM.

OF LUMPERS' WORK.

DEFINITE SCHEME SUGGESTED.

Since tho present industrial trouble began, various schemes havo been suggested for improving the lot of tho waterside worker"' and bringing about a condition ')f things which would obviate future strikes. The. matter has now taken a practical turn in tho shapo of a circular from the Prime Minister's office putting forward suggestions re equalising tho labour .of waterside workers: ' Tits Proposals. This circular, which has been sent' to the various bodies concerned, was read at last night's meeting of tho Wellington Harbour Hoard. It ran as follows: — . "That.in each of the major ports there hi) formed a standing committee or commission of nino moinbers representing tho following interests: — Harbour Board I. ocean-going vessels I, inter-colonial vessels 1, coastal .vessels 1, coal-workers 1, Itailway Department 1, watersido labourers 2, and a chairman representing tho Government (Stipendiary Magistrate) 1; total, 0.. "The commission should dotormino tho total amount of casual labour required from month to month during ' each' season of tho year, and employ tho number of hands at a minimum weekly wago; watersido labour to bo engaged from tho commission, and no outside, casual labour to bo engaged by any person until '.lie panel is exhausted. , "The commission should inquire into and adjudicate on all complaints against labourers and by labourers, and should havo ample powers to keep lists purged of undesirables. "The Commissioner should bo tho employer, and pay-the men, recovering" the payments' from tho persons to whom tho labour is supplied, together with an additional percentage to cover costs of management and to provido for the payment of tho guaranteed minimum. wago if not earnod. "To provide for national provident funds and accidents!

"One of tho objections.(the memorandum continued) that has been raised to tiio introduction of such a scheme is that tlio Wellington employers arc committed to the now Waterside .Workers Unidn for tlirco years on the existing conditions of working and wages. Ims objection is of small moment so long as tho number of men in tho union is less than the minimum number of workers required in any portion of the yea l '' "Tho great object to be gamed by tho proposed commission would bo to cmploy the'men "to tho best advantage with tho least loss of time, thereby ensuring a butter and more satisfied class of w'orkor. ■ , "Provision could be made for the employers to be insured against accident cither by or through tho Commissioner, and for granting to the men tho bencj fits of tho National Provident: scheme.

How They Were Viewed. Tho chairman of. tlio board (Mr. E. Fletcher) thought that tho scheme presented numerous difficulties, but it was in the right direction. It's advantage would bo that it would, to a large extent, 'minimise intermittent' work, and tho employers would get a better class of men, who in turn would get regular employment ; ; , .„!.;:,:■;;..■ Mr'.' M. Cohen regarded tho. scuemo as aii' interesting one, but ifjtho hoard was to enter into, it, .members should havo si further, opportunity of. considering it.. Ho felt most .strongly that the time had arrived when some now plan should be considered by the wholo of the boards of this' Dominion. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, said the board ■should have faced tho' question long before' this; . and tho present strike would never havo occurred,. Mr. It. A. Wright said that ho was preoared to support anything that would bring about a better condition of things for tho waterside.' workers and tho City. Tho solution of the difficulty appeared to be that they should havo far more permanent hands than at present. That a change would have to bo made went without' saying. It was a crying shame that there should.bo so many members ,of that union out of work through 116 wish of their own. Mr. C. AY.. Joiies-stated that ho would bo very glad indeed to see' anything that would bring about improved conditions in tho labour on the wharf, and if tho commission suggested would do so. lie would support it.

Mr. J. G. Cob.be thought that all members of tho board should bo furnished with a copy of the suggestions. Mr. W. T. Hildreth suggested that tho board should act' right away and appoint a delegate and then the matter could be more fully discussed at tho next meeting of the board. Mr. A. Maefarlano agreed that tho suggestion was a good one. iUr. J.. Trevor was prepared to be-lieve-that this should bo. begun' and consummated, but ho recognised that it presented maily difficulties. Ho did not envy tho gentlemen who had to tackle tlio' problem. He moved that tho chairman bo tho board's representative. Tho chairman pointed out that there was no limit to tho 'representatives and he suggested that there should be three. _ Eventually, on tho motion of Mr. Trevor, it' was decided that, the chairman, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Wright bo the board's representatives to meet the Prime Minister in connection with the matter. ■